Winning team of architects and designers will install permanent lighting on 17 bridges along the River Thames David Adjaye, Amanda Levete and Sam Jacob are among those shortlisted for a design competition to permanently light up 17 bridges along London’s River Thames. The Illuminated River project would be one of the UK’s biggest ever public art projects, with £10 million of private funding already pledged towards lighting up the bridges between Albert Bridge to the west and Tower Bridge to the east of the city centre. The competition attracted entries from 105 teams from around the world, with the winning teams led by Adjaye Associates, AL_A, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, Les Éclairagistes Associés and Sam Jacob Studio with Simon Heijdens. Hannah Rothschild, chair of the Illuminated River Foundation, said: ‘Since the founding of London, the mighty Thames has been the city’s main artery, linking north and south, east and west, encouraging business, activity and recreation. But at night, the river becomes a ribbon of darkness, a place that few enjoy and at odds with the ambition to make London a 24-hour city. This project will bring light, energy, beauty and recreation to the river and at the flick of a switch, transform the city at night.’ An exhibition of the proposals is on show until 29 November 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall and the winning proposal will be announced on 8 December 2016. |
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